Ontario Outdoor Skating Trails to Visit This Winter.

Ice skating is a quintessential Canadian winter past time. For a one-of-a-kind skating experience you need to go outdoors and explore some of the province’s amazing outdoor skating trails. Sharpen your skates, grab your hat and get ready to skate under the stars and take in some fresh forest air. Here are some of our favourite trails to discover this winter season.

Located in Orangville, there are so many skating options at the Island Lake Conservation. It includes a 1 km skating trail on the main lake to enjoy the scenery so you just don’t skate around in a circle. And if you are in the mood for some hockey, there is a skating pond surrounded by trees for an afternoon of fun!

The Arrowhead Provincial Park Skating Trail is Ontario’s longest man-made ice trail. Opened in 2012, park staff transformed the 1.3 km trail from summer roads and camp connectors into an ice surface that winds through forest and camp grounds. The skating trail is located in the heart of Muskoka and people flock north to this popular skating destination for an ideal winter getaway. The trail is so popular that on weekends it reaches capacity pretty quickly, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

For people in Toronto looking for a different skating experience, check out the Colonel Samuel Smith Skating Trail located on Etobicoke’s waterfront by Kipling and Lakeshore. The figure-8 shaped trail is 250-metres long, winds through the park’s landscape and is the city’s first ice skating trail. To stay frozen all winter, the rink is artificially cooled with a high-tech cooling system located beneath the ice. The trail opened late November and will be open until March, weather permitting.

Enjoy an unforgettable outdoor skating experience head to the MacGregor Point Ice Trail. The 400-metre skating loop is located at the shores of Lake Huron in Port Elgin and is lit at night for you can glide through the woods with ease. The park is open year round, but the trail is totally weather dependent. So cross your fingers for tons of snow and cold days.

The Richmond Green Skate Trail is located inside the largest park in Richmond Hill at Leslie Street and Elgin Mills Road. The 250-metre trail loops around natural surroundings and during the night there are lights around the trail for evening skating and music to get you in the winter mood. There’s also a heated washroom, change room and parking available on site. The trail is open from December to March, weather permitting of course.

Other activities: Mill Pond and Crosby Park rink

Admission: Free

Skate rentals available: No, BYOS (bring your own skates)

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